Drawing in a deep breath, he steadied himself, letting the weight of the moment settle over him. The atmosphere in the room shifted, becoming palpable with tension as he spoke, his voice taking on a sharper edge that cut through the silence.
"According to the contract," he began, each word deliberately chosen to underscore the gravity of their obligations, "you are required to follow whatever I say, right?"
An awkward pause lingered in the air, heavy with unspoken thoughts.
"Right?" he pressed again, his tone firm and demanding, eyes locked onto theirs.
"Yes," they replied, their voice barely above a whisper.
"Then forget everything I've said up until this point. From now on, my first order is clear: no matter the circumstances, no matter who it is or when it might be, no one is allowed to meet with me without my explicit permission—and I mean it, without exception! Got it?"
"Yes." Their gaze remained downcast, the meekness in their response igniting Jae Hyuk's irritation. He felt a swell of frustration rise within him and repeated his demand, his tone escalating slightly, emphasizing the seriousness of the decree.
"GOT IT??"
"YES!!" Understanding his intention, they both complied with his request, exchanging glances filled with unspoken agreement. Jae Hyuk handed them a thick file, his demeanor calm yet authoritative, and then gestured for them to exit the room. Hae Ra, however, remained frozen in the front corner, her mind racing as she processed everything that had just happened.
After a brief moment of contemplation, she gathered her thoughts and turned to him, her expression serious. "I need to inform you about your discharge," she said, her voice steady despite the anxious energy in the air. "It was originally scheduled for tomorrow, but due to the recent incident, it has been postponed for another three days." Her tone conveyed a hint of frustration; it was certainly inconvenient, but there was little they could do to change it.
Jae Hyuk shrugged indifferently, wrapping himself more tightly in the soft, gray blankets that cocooned him. "Well, whatever! Anything else?" he grunted, a hint of annoyance lacing his words as he buried his face deeper into the fabric, seeking comfort.
"I had some work left to do," Hae Ra continued, "so I will be leaving for the next few days."
"Yeah, sure, you can go," he replied, his voice muffled. "I need some rest anyway."
From his spot in the corner, Ji Hoon met Jae Hyuk's tired gaze, and a knowing look passed between them, filled with the weight of shared experiences. Jae Hyuk's eyes narrowed slightly, conveying a silent message: I TOLD YOU SO.
As Hae Ra was about to exit the room, Jae Hyuk's mind suddenly flickered with a pressing thought. He leaned back slightly, a serious expression settling on his face.
"Oh! Before you go," he called out, his voice cutting through the lingering quietness, "please remind the Do-Lee pairs about their duties and responsibilities toward their families. Make it clear that this is their first and last warning; I'd hate to see them disappoint me. That's all I need from you, you can leave after that."
Hae Ra, still caught in a haze of confusion, nodded slowly, her mind swirling with questions. "Yes," she finally managed to reply, though uncertainty laced her tone.
Ji hoon hovers above his own body, his impatience bubbling beneath the surface. "What are you doing?" he asked, his voice laced with a mixture of irritation and concern.
"What?"
"Why are you behaving like that? They'll get suspicious of us."
"Suspicious of what? Me not being you? Are you dumb?" he scoffed, his words rushing out in a single breath. His eyes burned with frustration, a sharp contrast to the exhaustion etched into his features. He clutched the edge of the blanket tighter. "Even if they get suspicious, so what? They won't be able to prove it, at least not in this life."
With a huff, he turned away, curling himself up in the blankets like a fortress. The chaos of the day seemed to weigh on him, evident in the furrow of his brow and the tense set of his jaw. "Just shut it and let me sleep. It's been so chaotic thanks to your 'beautiful and peaceful' life."
His voice, though muffled by the blankets, carried a sharp edge of irritation. "Stop hovering over me and just settle somewhere," he added, the irritation almost tangible as he buried his face deeper into the pillow. The atmosphere in the room was thick with a palpable tension, laden with unspoken words that hung heavy in the air. Silence enveloped them like a dense fog, stretching moments into what felt like an eternity.
"Hey, don't you want to know about your— I mean, Jaehyuk's life?"
Ji Hoon's question broke through the stillness, but it felt more like an empty gesture. Of course, Jaehyuk was curious, but the weight of the moment left him acutely aware that all they could do was wait. The realization settled in his chest—he knew this feeling all too well. Without bothering to respond, Jaehyuk surrendered to his own thoughts and gently closed his eyes, seeking refuge in the darkness.
After what felt like ages, he groaned softly, frustration pushing him to roll over in bed. When he finally opened his eyes again, the room was cloaked in shadows; the lights were out, and the encroaching night made the outside world seem like a distant dream. As he sat up, his gaze fell on a familiar figure sprawled out on the sofa just a few feet away. It was Hae Ra, her presence a stark contrast to the quiet void surrounding them.
Without any blanket on her she was asleep on sofa clutching the pillow with both of her hands.
Jae hyuk takes the extra blanket kept plunder his pillow to her and covers her carefully.
He floated near the window, captivated by the enchanting night view that spread out before him. The half-moon cast a silvery glow, its light struggling to compete with the vibrant city lights that flickered from the buildings below, a chaotic blend of luminescence vying for attention. The twinkling stars fought to break through the urban haze, creating a delicate tapestry across the night sky.
As Jaehyuk gazed into the distance, his thoughts began to drift back to Ji-hoon's words, echoing in his mind from just moments before he had closed his eyes. The memory of their conversation lingered, weaving through his reflections like a gentle thread, urging him to contemplate the deeper meaning behind those words.
"Just what kind of promise did we make?" Jae Hyuk pondered, frustration boiling within him. "Why does this burden fall on me? And now that I'm dead, what has really been happening at the firm? Who could possibly want me dead so desperately? Why was he there? Wasn't he supposed to be abroad?"
His mind was a whirlwind of tumultuous questions, each one exploding like fireworks in his head. Taking a deep, steadying breath to calm the storm within, he decided to step outside in search of fresh air. As he crossed the threshold, a chill breeze washed over him.
To his surprise, he found Mina sitting just outside the room. Her expression was stern, her posture rigid, as she waited alone in the dim light of the corridor.
"Where is Min Hyuk?" The sudden voice startled Mina, causing her to jump slightly in her seat. She turned to see Ji Hoon standing in the doorway, arms crossed and an expectant look on his face, awaiting her response.
"Min Hyuk was hurt, so Mrs. Choi asked him to leave a little earlier," she explained, her voice steady despite the surprise.
Ji Hoon nodded thoughtfully as he processed her words, then turned on his heel and began to walk out of the room. Mina's heart raced at the sight of him leaving, prompting her to call after him, "Where are you going?"
He paused, raising an eyebrow at her question, his piercing gaze fixed on her for a moment, which made her fidget. Sensing the tension, she quickly rephrased her inquiry, "Are you going somewhere?"
"Just for a little walk, on the terrace," he replied nonchalantly, resuming his previous posture with a hint of defiance.
"But the doctor instructed you to rest and avoid too much movement!" she protested, concern etched across her face. "And Mrs. Choi would panic if she saw you weren't in the room." The urgency in her voice hung in the air, a mixture of worry and determination thickening the atmosphere between them.
With an exaggerated roll of his eyes, he stepped inside, his irritation palpable. Moments later, he emerged again, striding purposefully toward the elevator.
"Don't even think about trying to stop me. Feel free to follow, but do your best to stay out of my sight," he warned Mina sharply, his tone laced with frustration as he pressed the button and the elevator doors slid open.
Unsure of how to respond, Mina hesitated for a moment before reluctantly trailing behind him, positioning herself in the shadows of the elevator. She could feel the tension in the air, a mix of uncertainty and unresolved conflict hanging between them.
After a few moments of uncomfortable silence, Mina finally exhaled deeply as she stepped out of the elevator. The enchanting garden on the terrace captivated her, and her eyes roamed over the vibrant blossoms and lush greenery with a sense of wonder. Meanwhile, Jae Hyuk walked past her, drawn to the railing where he could gaze out at the breathtaking landscape and clear his mind before the overwhelming thoughts inside him could build to a breaking point.
Mina followed closely behind, still entranced by the stunning array of plants flourishing in one corner of the garden. Just as she was about to lose herself in their intricate details, she noticed Ji Hoon sprinting toward the railing with urgency. With a swift motion, he reached out and pulled someone up from the tank, seemingly oblivious to everything else around him.
"Hey! What are you doing? Are you out of your mind?"
The words exploded from Ji Hoon's mouth as he lunged forward, gripping the boy's arm tightly. In that frantic moment, their bodies collided, the impact sending them both stumbling backward.
"No! I have to get him back! Let me go!" The boy muttered frantically to himself, a desperate determination burning in his words as he scrambled to his feet. He sprinted toward the railing, the world around him fading into a blur, consumed by a singular focus.
Just as he reached the edge, a firm hand grasped his ankle, yanking him back with a force that nearly toppled him over. It was Ji Hoon, desperately trying to pull him away from the precipice.